Luminous sign



F. A, KROTZER ETAL Aug; 1s, 1931.

LUMINOUS SIGN Filed Jan. 19, 1929 2 'sheets-sheer 2 Ilh.

Efedergc .jvggl 7/Zla'am 2. razz a Afr/4 Patented Aug. l, 1931 ire ls'in'rss :FREDERICK A. KROTZER AND WILLIAM is.

CRANDALL, OF WESTFIELD, NEW YORK*l LUMINoUs Vsien VApplication.filed January 19,

Our invention vrelates to improvements in signs of that type having a luminous display y of characters indirectly exposed through refiection. v

vOne of the objects `of our invention `is to provide a sign of this kind wherein replaceable elements or panels are employed, each bearing a figure or other character, applied thereto in reverse manner to be reflected i0 .through a mirror in luminous formgand to so mount or support the sign thatitmay vbe aiigularly adjusted with a view thatA the reflected iguresof the sign will be clearly readable withthe slightest ray of lighty and from any given point of view.

Another object of our invention is the provision of aliouse-number sign embodying `a support adapted to receive interchangeable figures, and means for luminouslyreflecting 20 .the figures so that they may be seen atnight` under artificial light, even though such light be located at a distant pointu "1 Another object o our invention is to pro-p vide a sign of the type; mentioned havingl 555 new and novel means for receiving and supporting the character-bearing element or ele. ments, and th-e mirrorlor other reflecting member througlrthe medium of; which the characters are luminously reflected. en With the above and other objectsin view' toY appear hereinafter, our invention consists? in the novel featuresof construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to behereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the subj oine'd claims. 'y

In the drawings i-- Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of our iniproved luminous sign, particularly adapted for house number' use. 1 i

Fig. 2 is adetachedperspectiveview of one of the end members or plates of the. sign;

Fig.- 3 Vis av detached perspective view of the tie member used for'tying theendmembers or plates together at lone corner and for supporting the character-bearing elements.'

Fig. l isa vertical 'secti'on,-talren;on line 1f-4, Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 5. is an enlarged horizontal'section, taken/on line 5-5, Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a transverse'section of -the sign.'

1929. VSerial hNo 333,675.

intermediate portion of the sign which serves to support the reflecting member and the reary i ends ofthe character-bearing elements.

F ig.` 8 is a front elevation of al sign somewhat modified in construction and adaptedy v more particularly for luminously displaying a name, or a word or words.

Fig.l 9 is an endview'of theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 8. Y Y

Fig. l() is a cross section, taken on line 10-10,Fig. e.-

Fig, 11 is an enlarged vertical section,

taken on line 11-11', Fig.v 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged horizontal section, l

taken on line 12-12,` Fig. 9J

In the-drawings, the reference numeral 15 designates the frame or support of lthe sign by means of which the numeral orletterbearing element or elements and thefreflecting mirror are supported and retainedl in their'relative positions with a view of refiecting'fthenumerals or'letters of one onto* the other. ff f The ,Y frame. or support members or plates -16 which may have any comprises itwoend ,.f

desired' outline, but 4are* preferably orna-y what approaching a triangle. r Arranged in..`

`proximity .to 4the upper en'djof each 'of these `end members (5r-platesis a groovev 17, `and nearjthe lower'.edge,lwhich is obliquely ar-v f ranged, "a secondy groove 18 is formed, both grooves' 17 and 18 being on the innerside of the plate. vrlhe groove 18 converges to` wardtlie groove 17 at the rear end of [the latter, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. f

An intermediate member 19 `is disposed be- .tween thetwo end plates and conneetsthem This intermediate kmember j is Y preferably formed of a sheet of metal'bent to provide a comparatively Vwide mirror-suptogether.

porting :panel 2O and aiwall member 2l disposed'at aniobtuse angle to r,said mirror sup-f s porting member.A The front endofv said sheetl of metal is bent .upon itself, asat'22,

to form a longitudinal groove 23,- and near the upper' end of the wall member 21 the sheet metal is bent upon itself to provide a supporting flange 24, which extends from end to end of said wall member, The upper marginal portion of said wall member is bent forwardly along the lmajor portion of` its lengthto Apr vide a retainer flange 725, which is spaced with reference to the supporting flange 24 to form a gro-ove 26 between the two. Along the .remaining marginal portion of said wall member, the metal is slitV at intervals, as at 27, as best shown in Fig. 7, to provide a number of retainer lips or ears 28, which are adapted to be 'bent forwardly intoalinement with the vretainer flange 425 and W ish.. rh-eee@ ben-t ferm eeatimeten eff said retainer flange.

This intermediate member 19 is connected V at ,opposite ends ,tothe end members ,or plates le., .2.11151 ter this perreee the Sheet :metal frere whih said iriterrniediatek memberV is corn-v structed is provi-ded with three pairs of seeuries .eers :2.9, .30, 31,12eepeetve1y, the eers 29 being formed on and directed forwardly freir the enfle, et the Wall member 21 beneath and in slightly spacedV relation to .the supporting flange 24. The seeuring ears 30 are bent downwardly oppositeY ends of the mirrelseilpnertns Panel 2Q at the junction o-f said panel with the wall member 21, and the ears `31 are bent downwardly yat opposite ends of the mirror-supporting panel at or nears its frontend.y

The ,ears 29, 37,0 and Eiland the end .edges ofthe.intermediate member 1-9V lie in contact with :the inner sides of the end walls or plates 416 and said intermediate member is fastened to said end members or plates by means 0f screw, bolts 32, 33, 34 Ypassed throng-h `openings 35, 36, 37, respectively, in said end 'members :or plates and through alined vopenings insaidears; nuts 38 being applied to the inner projecting ends of said screw bolts, as best shown vin Figs. 4 and 6.1

.'Before, however, .connecting the interin-edi.- f ate member 1t) 1370 the end members or plates,

members or plates 16, packing' A41 being-prefl.

eragbly placed over -the'end marginal .portions of this reflecting mirror and entered fin said oblique grooves with the vend portions of the nrirror. YThis packing be felt .or other cushioning material .and serves to firmly retain the mirror in clamped condition between the end members or plates 16, without possibility of movement. rThis packing also guards against the elements of the weather entering behind the reflecting mirror and damaging the prepared under side thereof; thus assuring retention of the reflecting qualities of the mirror.

A combined tie and supporting member 42 connects the end members at their upper vfron-t ends; this member being .preferably a castingvprovided with a groove 43 opening rearwardly, the groove 48 being in horizontal alinement with the grove 26 in the wall mem- 'ber' 21 and with the grooves 17 in the end members pr plates 1,6. rllhis .combined tie and Supporting member hee depending .eers 44 externes-ite ende, i @ich lie against the .inner sides of the end members or plates 16, and are provided with screwthreaded openings 45 which are alined ,with :openings 46 in Vsaid end members or plates .at .their upper front corners, Fastening screws 47 .are passed through the Iopenings 46 in said end members or plates ,and threaded int-o the screwthreaded openings 475 in the depending lugsI of the combined Vtie Land supporting member 42.

In tghe construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7, which is particularly adapted to Adisplay house numbers', a plurality of number or numeralfbearing Aelements These elementsare formed of glass'o-f a pre.-

= ferred kind ,employed in signs of this type,

and, they ,are preferably oblong pieces or platesv adapted to be supported in a horizontal plane and arranged edge to edge. Said numeral-bearing elements are ydesignated by the numeral :48, and in the drawings, four of` such-.elementsare shown, although any other desired Anumber may be employed. Therearends of these elements `are entered are provided.

into thegroove 26 on .the wall member 21 f of the intermediate member, being supported b v the supporting flange 24 and retained in the groove :by the retaining flange 25, inclu-ding the ears` 28 which form part .of such.

retaining flange.' Thefront ends `of .theseV numeralbearing elements are .entered in the retaining groove 43y formed in the combined tie and retain ing member 42,.and the out` ers-ide marginal portionsof the end elements are .enteredinto the horizontal grooves 17 formed in the end members or plates 16. The 'four number elements, when arranged end to end in firm Contact, are co-eXtensi-ve with the reflecting mirror underneath. Packing 49, similar to vthe packing 41, is placed .over

the outer side marginal portions of the two v end.numeralbearing elements and fitted into tlie grooveslrwithsaid marginal portions.

lVhen packing, such as indicated at A41- and 49 is employed, `the grooves-17 andl 18 in the end membersror plates 16 are'made somewhat wider than the .thickness of the numeral-bearing elements and the retlecting mirror, and the retainer grooves 23 and 26 in the intermediate member 19 and the groove 48 in the combined tie and retainer member 42 are of a size to snugly receive marginal portions of said numeral-bearing elements and reflecting mirrori If desired, however, packing similar to the packing -41 and 49 may be employed within the Vretainer grooves 23, 26 and 43, in which case each of said last-mentioned grooves will be made slightly wider than shown. Y n n The numerals are outlined on the under side of the numeral-bearing elements, preferably by rendering -such elements opaque outside ofthe numeral regions Yso that the region within the outline of each numeral or ligure is left transparent, through which the rays of light may pass and the numerals be projected onto the reflecting mirror 39. rFliese numerals appear reversed on the under side of the numeral-bearing elements sothat when projected or transferred by light rays onto the mirror and reflected tlierefrom,`they will appear luminously in correct display as though in upright position, all of which is well known in the art to which our invention relates. u

A house number displayed by means oi' our sign may consists of vone or more numerals, and where the house number consists of one or three nuinerals,'we preferably employ three full-width elements, suchas shown in the drawings, and two half-width elements, cen-v trally positioning the full-width elements be tween the end members or plates 16 and placing the halwidth elements atiopposite endsv of the three full-width elements, 'withl the outer side marginal portions of the halfwidth elements entered into the groove'svl? in the end members or plates 16. Ink this manner a fullwidth element is centrally arranged in the frame or support Vof the sign.` Ita house numberconsists otone numeral, the numeral is outlined on the single4 center elementso that it appearsreilected through the reflecting mirror from a pointcentrallyf between its ends. Ita house number consists of three numerals, the numerals are outlined on the three full-width elements under' the arrangement described; and in such ca se, the

from all four elements'` Consequently,A in, all cases, a house number will be centrally projected or transferred 'fromY the numeralbearing velements or plates by light rays to the mirror and be luini'nously reflected from the mirror.A Y A f In orderthat the numeral-bearingele-v mentsmay be conveniently inserted, the ears 25 are kept in alinement with the major por` tion lof the wall member 21 or, in other words, areleft unbent, and as thecombined length of these ears are somewhatrgreater than the width of each numeral-bearing element, three of the four elements may be inserted and properly positioned within their receiving grooves by entering the iront ends of each in the receiving groove 43 `formed in the combined tie and supporting element thence lowering the plate to bringA the rear marginal portion against the supporting flange 24, and finally sliding the elements` one after the vother lengthwise into the receiving grooves 26 and 43 until they lare properly positioned. rlfhe end member or wall' 16 adjacent theretainer lips 28 can thenA be loosened suiiciently to allow the last nu-` meralebearing element to .be positioned in place, after which said end member or plate may be tightened to clamp all of the members together in a rigid manner. The retainer lips 28 are thence bent over the rear niarginal portion of the element lastinserted, and the innermost retainer lip V28" may slightly overlap a portion of the adjacent element in the series' when bent downwardly, to form a continuation of the retainer flange 25. By providing the retainer lips 28, it is possible to change the elements 48 withoutcoin- 28 formed at one end of the retainer ilange pletely disassenibling thevparts of the sign, n

as'it isonly necessary to bend the retainer lips 28 upwardly, slightly loosen the adjacent endfmember or plate 16, after which any others substituted, and when substituted, said end member or plate can bequiclrly tightened' to completely fasten all parts to-V gether in' a rigid manner. It willlbe -appar- Iof the elements 48 may be withdrawn and be termed, consequently has vertical end wallsf` ormedlby' the end members .or plates 16, a

vertical rear wall formed by the wall member' 21, atop wall formed by the elements 48,7` which may alsobe termed sign elements, and an inclinedbottom wall having a reflecting upper surface; In this instance, a separateVV element in the form of a mirror is `placed upon the true bottom wall formed of sheet metal and being in piece with the vertical rear Y wall; the whole arranged to provide an opening at the front substantially co-eiitensive with 'the length and height ,of Vthe casing. One or more L'of said sign elements have opaque and transparent regions, the trans- -k parentl regions being outlined to the numerals or othercharactersto be displayed by painting 'the region aroundor without said numerals orfcharacters, while the elem-ents not provided with numerals or ,other'characters have their entire surfaces painted, or otherwise rendered opaque.

House numbers are invariably displayed at :i comparatively high elevation, considered with respect to person driving an automobile `along the 1oad in front of the house or Y walking along the sidewalk; and for this reas son we provide means for adjustably supportthe sign, whichl consists of brackets 50 pivotally secured to opposite ends of the casing, the preferred form for a number sign being angular brackets, the securing arm 51 of which is parallel with the rear wall of the casing and adapted to be secured to a heuse,

while the supporting arm 52, arranged at a rigliteangl-e to the securing arm, is provided with a bolt hole 58 at its liront end lthrough which aV screw bolt 5l is passed, said screw bolt beiii'fj` entered in the end walls 16 of the casing and extending through the brackets, a thu-nib nut 55 being threaded onto each bolt to fasten the sign to said brackets, in any ad.- just-ed position, with a view of luminously rer flee-,ting the house number from the mirror 89 so that it appears Acentrally between the upper or rear edge and the lower or front -edgeofthe mirror from a somewhat lower point of view.

lt may here be stated that the sign element .or elements used Vin luminous signs ,of this kind are usually coloredpaiidit has been' found that a blue coloris easily readable and appears highly luminous when reflected through a mirror r other like reflecting mediuii'i. The reflections of the characters ,on t ie sign elements shown in Fig. 4f and of the sign element shown in `Fig. 8, of `the modified construction to .be hereinafter described, are indicated as blue, but Vany et ier colored sign element or elements may be employed.

En the modification shown in lligs.8 to 12,r

the intermediate portion of the sign, .which comprises the sheet metall bottom wall 2O and Y the saine manner asin the preferred construc-V f tion to provide vceive the front or lower marginal portioiiof the reflecting mirror 39, which mirror has itsv the receiving groove 23 to reoppos i eiids inserted into the grooves formed in the inn-er sides of the end members a or walls 16, as described. ln this modificah tien, a ene-piece sign member or element 56 is employes, rand like the numeral-bearing elementslt) in the preferred construction, iorins the pai transparent and partly opaque top wall ci the casing. rEliis sign element 56 has OpnQSte @11de Entered int@ the sfOOVGS.. 17 1.11 said end members or walls, While opposite @mls 0f the .reflecting mlrror 39 ,are entered into the grooves 1,8 in said end members -or walls 1f, the pa ng l1 being provided within the groores 18V fort-lie ends of the mirror wall Zihas a finishing flange 57 bent forwardly therefrom so as torovferlie lthe rear Vmarginal portion of the sign element 56, and

a finishing bar 58 `of channel'formation in section islltted over the ,front marginal portion cof `the sid-n element 56. This finishing bar 58 may be otherwise lshaped as it is Ynot depended upon to support the sign plate and serves nie 1ely to protect -the front edge of said plate icing chipped and lto give the sign finished appearance. Y

VThe intermediate member and the finSliing bar 58 are simply `clamped betiifeen the end members, no other provision being made igor securing them in place, except the p Ortions thereof overlying portions of .the sign element` and the reflecting mirror.

rlhe end members or walls 16 are held in soaced relation and arranged to clamp the ign element and the reflecting mirror a manner toV prevent movement of both, by means of tie rods 59, 60, yand 61, the tie rods 59 and 6() haring-oppositeends passedthrougli ine upper rear and upper front corners, respectively, .of ,the endwalls and having nuts 62 applied to their outer projecting ends so as to firmlypress saidendV walls against the ends of the sign element-56 and reflecting mirror 39 Vagainst the ends of the intermediate ineinfber 19 forming the inclinedbottom wall 20 and the rear wall 21; and against the finish ing bar 58.

VVV'lhe-ends of the tie rod 6l are passed through the end walls 16 at their lower front corners, and they project outwardly beyond said Vend walls a somewhat greater .distance than the tierods 59, 60. On the projecting ends of' the tie rod 61, nuts 63 are applied which bear against the outer sides of said end VIVprises a horizontal base or ecuring member 65 and a vertical or supporting member 6,6

'which bears against the nuts 63 on the tie rod 61, and also againsta boss 67 on the outer sides of the end walls 16. The supporting member 66 ofeacli -bracket is provided with a segmental slot 68 having the tie rod 61 as its center.

The' projecting ends of saidtie rod are passed through the supporting members A 66 of the brackets and have thumb nuts 69 threaded thereon. Y

Passed through the end walls 16 from their inner sides are clamping bolts which eX- tend axially through the bosses 67 formed on the outer sides of the end walls and projectA through the segmental slots 68 in the supporting members of the brackets, each bolt 70 having a thumb nut 71 threaded thereonto which bears against its co-operating bracket.

rIhe sign is therefore adjustably supported on the brackets; and in order to adjust the sign, it is only necessary to loosen the thumbnuts 71 and 69, after which the sign may be `swung to any desired angle on the projecting ends of the tie rod 61 and be held at such anglev by tightening the thumb nuts 71 so that they bear firmly against the outer sides of the supporting members 66, after which the thumb nuts 69 on the tie rod 61 may be tightened to further assure retention of the sign in its ad,-A

justed position. lt is not absolutely necessary to maintain a tight pivotal mounting Having thus described our invention, what j we claim is 1. A luminous sign, comprising a casing having end walls, an intermediate member forming an inclined bottom wall bent upon itself at its front edge to provide a retainer groove and having a vertically-disposed rear wall in piece with said bottom wall provided with a supporting flange and a retainer flange separated from said supporting flange and having also retainer ears stamped therefrom directly above said inclined bottom wall, a reflecting mirror placed against said inclined bottom wall and having its front marginal portion entered in said retainer groove and having its rear marginal portion engaged by said retainer ears, and a top wall having its rear marginal portion entered between said supporting flange and said retainer flange and provided with' means to throw characters outlined thereon downwardly onto said reflecting mirror to be reflected from the latter, and means engaging the front marginal portions of s aid top wall.

its line of junctionwith said bottom wall, said rear wallhaving also a supporting flange above said retainer ears and a retainer flange spaced yfrom said` supporting wall to proa,

`vide` a retainer groove therebetween, a v'combined `tie and supporting member connecting saidV end'walls in the plane of said supporting and retainer flanges, a signl plate extend# ing from end wall to end wall and having... its rear kmarginal, portionfitting into said retainer'groove and its `front marginal portionv fitted into saidcombined tie and supportingmember, and areflecting mirror lying upon said inclinedbottom wall and' having its front marginal portion entered into the retainer groove at the front end of said bottom wall and litsrear marginal portion engaged by theretainer ears on said rear wall.

ber formed of sheetA metal bentuponitself to provide a forwardly-inclined bottom wall and a vertical rear wall, `the metalnfofs'aid 1 rear Vwall being bentl upon itself near Vits upperend to form a supporting fiange and being further bent at its upper marginal -portion in spaced relation to said supporting flange to provide a retainer iange, a portion of said retainerflange being slit to form retainer ears capable of being bent upwardly into alinement with said rear wall and thus provide an entrance opening lalong a portion of said retainer flange, a supporting bar connecting said end walls at their upper forward corners, means for securing said intermediate member to said end walls, a reiiecting mirror mounted on said inclined bottom wall, and a set of flat oblong elements supported by said supporting flange and supporting bar and being capable of removal from and placement into said retaining groove through said entrance openinv.

4C. A luminous sign, comprising a casing havingarefiecting surface and two walls dis--v groove, and numeral-bearing elements having opposite marginal portions fitted into said retainer grooves, said numeral-bearing elements being formed to cause numerals to be reflected from said reflectin surface.

d luminous sign, comprising a easing j 

